Cherry Pie & Streams in the Desert

I know this because He’s done it with me, over, and over again. Each, and every time, He has met me in my brokenness and restored me with love, given me hope, new dreams, and a new vision. He has bound up my wounded heart and spirit, healed those places that were gaping, bleeding holes and transformed me into something beautiful. I was still the same person, only better.

Just like this cherry pie is still cherry pie, it became
something better when warmed up and topped with ice cream.

Is there something in your life that needs restoration? He promises in His Word that he will restore
you and make something new, but first, we must stop dwelling on the past.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Passion Translation) says:

18 “Stop dwelling on the past. Don’t even remember these former things.”

Forget what happened in the past. I know it’s hard, especially if someone hurt you. Ask God to come into your heart and heal those places that are hurt. Get rid of things that remind you of the past. That may mean unfollowing people and pages on social media or getting off social media altogether for a while. Pack up photos and items that remind you of the hurtful things. A wound won’t heal if you keep ripping the band-aid off.

19 “I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams in the desert.”

FLOWING
STREAMS IN THE DESERT! Think about that
for a minute. What kind of change would
a flowing stream in a desert bring to the surrounding landscape? What would a flowing stream of God’s goodness
bring to the landscape of your life?

Look for
what He is doing in your life that’s new and focus on that. Surround yourself with uplifting photos,
music, and people who love and support you.
Study His promises and pray for Him to reveal the new thing He’s doing
in your life. Think on and focus on the
good things, as Paul says in his letter to the Philippians (Philippians 4:8-9,
The Message)

“Summing
it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true,
noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the
beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to
curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and
realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you
into his most excellent harmonies.”

A good way to think and focus on
the good things is through a gratitude journal.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
Just take a piece of paper and begin writing down all the things you’re
grateful for, even the things that seem small and insignificant, the things you
may take for granted every day. Things
like electricity, water, books, technology, you get the idea. Every day write down at least three things
you are grateful for and then thank God for them. You can do it on your phone
or computer, but I believe there is immense power in putting pen to paper.

Do these things and I promise,
He will restore your heart and “work you into his most excellent harmonies.”